Convertible folding go-cart.



J. F. BRIGGS.

coNvERlBLE FOLDING Go.cART. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. |916.

Patented July 2, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l n., wasnmcrow. n.1:

J. F. BRIGGS.

CONVERTIBLE FOLDING Go-cART.

APPUCATION FILED FEBA 26. i916.

Patented July 2, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. F. BRIGGS.

CONVERTIBLE FOLDING GO-CART.

APPucATloN man ss', 2s. 191e.

Patented July 2, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 J. F. BRIGGS.

CONVERTIBLE FOLDING Go-CART.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 19H5v Patented Jury 2, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Mme/Ww? array/Vfl.

'tin Airs PATE JOHN r. BnIGGs, or GAYS MILLS, wIscoNsIN, AssIeNon oF ONE-HALF To salut/TELy o. MARTNER, oFrnAInIE DU cr-IIEN, wIscoNsIN.

CONVERTIBLE FOLDING Gro-CART.v

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1918.

Application mea February 26, 1916. seran No. 80,578.

State of VVisconsimhaveY invented new andy useful lmprovements in Convertible Fold-V ing Go-Carts, of which the `following is a description, reference being had to-theac companying drawings, whichare apart of this specification. f v

This invention has for its object to provide a childs go-cart capable of folding into a compact form so as to occupysmall space for convenience in storing or on taking it aboard a street car or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a go-cart capable'V of completely collapsing in one operation, thatof moving the handle bar toward the front o-f the frame, hingedy wheel supporting frames be' vide such a folding go-cart with a dgtachable portion including the seat and its back and the handle bars which are so combinedtogether that they are capable of assuming various useful forms such as a high chair,

a swing, or a two-wheel cart.

Anotherobject of the invention is to pro# vide for various adjustments of the parts in their different arrangements and for brac-` ing and supporting the parts against accidental displacement in all of such arrangements. f A

Another' obj ect of the invention is to perfect details of construction of such a device. With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the convertible folding go-cart as vherein claimed and all equivalents. s

Referring to the accompanyingy drawings, in which like characters'of reference indicate the saine parts in the different views,

Figure 1 is a vlongitudinal sectional view of convertible go-cart constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the device as it appears when Vopened up for use as a gocart, an alternative position-fer the Aseat back and an alternative position for the boot being shownin dotted lines; 'Fig 2 is a sidefview thereof when folde or collapsed to its compact form;

Fig.- 3 is a bottom view thereof; Fig. 45 is a Side view of the central por.-

' nection f with `the frame.

tion thereof Ashowing the manner of disconnecting the detachable portionV from ther frame;

.Fig 5 is a sectional elevation of the de,- tachable portion arranged as a highchair;

Fig. V6 is a similar view thereof when arranged as aY` swing; i l

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the device when so arranged; 1

Fig. 8 is aside view of the detachable portion whenarranged to constitute a two-V wheel cart when two ofthe wheels of the truck are attached thereto, but having the near wheel removed;

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the detachable mounting for the wheels;

Fig. 10 isa similar view showingthe arrangement of the locking pin;

Fig. 11 is a detail viewv of thesliding connection between the seat members and the handle: bars; andV o i Fig. 12 is a detail view ofthe detachable connection between the handle Vbars and .the links of the truck. f

' In these drawings 15 indicatesa rectangular frame which is preferably of metal, as is true also of other parts unless otherwise indicated. Angle lugs 16 haverectangular wheelframes 17 pivotally connected thereto at each side of the' frame. Axle pins .18 are secured in the lowercorners of the wheel framesV 17, and wheels k19 are removably mounted on them, asshown in detail ,in

Figs. V9 and 10.V Each wheel is rotatably mounted on a flanged ysleeve 2() which carriesa curved lever 21 with a pivotedlocking c pins 24 which are removablv seated in open bearings formed by notched lugs onzthe sides of frame 15, and retaining` hooks 26 on ysaid lugs engage the pins 24 when so seated to retain them in their pivotal con- These handle bars are connected at their curved lower ends by a cross bar 27 and from a short distance above the pivot pins 24 to theirupperends are preferably formed semi-circular in cross section to produce a split tubular` `forma- .tion with similarly shaped Supplemental handle bar members28 which are pivotally connected thereto at 2,9, the upperI ends of the'hand'l'e bar members 23 and 2S beine" connected by half round cross pieces 30, preferably of wood, which together form the round handle portion of the handle bars. Lugs 31'vprojecting from the concave surfaceof the supplemental lhandle bar niembers 28 are adapted toY pass-tlnough openings in the handle bar members 23, and have tie rods 32 pivotally connected to them to a-lso pass through such openings, but which are providedrwith stop pins oriother enlargements 33 incapable of passing'through the openings and thus limiting the degree of swinging movement of thel supplemental handle bar member with respect tothe main hafndlebar. Then the' handle bar members are together the tie rods 3 2 swing` against the h'an'dle bar membersi23to prevent the supplemental handle bar members kfrom swinging-away from the handle bar proper.

lLevers 34y are fulcrumed to thesides of the frame 15 and have links 3,5 pivote'df to their upper ends', the' rear' ends` of said links being provided with headed studs 36 adapted to be releasably engaged with thehandle bars ,by ittii'ig in registeringL notches 37 of the members 23' and 28.y Swii'iging movements' of the handle bars on their' pivot pins 24 will thus be imparted to the levers 34' through the link connections 35. The lower ends' of the two levers 34 are connected together by a crosspiece' and Si shaped cam strips 39 Vareconne'cted! at' their ends tok thelevers 34 and thecrosspiece38 respectively, asbest seen in Fig. 3. The ,re-y versely bent cam portions thereof are spaced from the leversL 34,'as best seen in Fig. 1, and arc-shaped rods40rigidly connected to the tops and the front ends ofthe wheel frames 17, and lying inthe plane thereof, pass between the lower ends of levers' 34 and the cam strips Thus the'swinging movements of the levers34 cause the wheel frame`17 to swing-on the pivoty lugs 1G'of the main frame,\the swinging ofthe handle vbarsy towardy the front ends of the main frame causing the cam strips 39 to press in'- wardly on the rods 40 to fold they wheel frames beneath the main frame, andL vthe swinging ofthe handle bars inthe opposite direction causing the levers 34' to bear outwardly on said rods 40 toswing the wheel frames to theirr vertical positions. In the fully extendedI position ofthe handle bars the parts' are locked against accidental change inposition by shouldered` folding braces? 41` connecting the levers 34 ywith frame 15'.y In thisposition of the parts the lower ends of the levers 34 of the U-shaped frame formedy by thetwolevers 34 and their connecting crosspiece '38 by fitting'y between the rods'40yof"y the two wheel frames serve to prevent an *inwardl movement yof said wheel frames, while the upper ends of the wheel frames by bearing against the outside of the main frame prevent a further outward movement thereof, and the wheel framesl are thus held rigidly in their vertical positions.

. To further rigidly brace the wheel frames in their upright positions a U-shaped member 42 hasits endsk pivotally mounted on the frame 15 and is connected by connecting rod 43 with the levers 34 so that' as the device is opened:v up said'member is` swung downwardly between the rearends of the wheel frames 17 to prevent them from swinging inwardly', though thisblocking condition is removed by said member being swung upwardly when' the device is being collapsed, movement being imparted there` to from the levers 34 by means of'the connecting rodsv43.

A pair of'broad, flat members 44 and 45 preferably oflw'ood, are hinged together and formthe seat' and back for the' device in its various arrangements, the seat being formed by the part; 441m some instances and by the part in others. Inthe arrangement being. described, in which the' device forms the folding go-cairt, the part 44' constitutes the seat member andi the part 45 the 'back member. Pfivot pinsV 46 by which the members 44 and 45 are hinged4 together slidably fit in longitudinalt slots' of" the' handle bars 23 just above'the pivot pins-24 so that the seat and back are Capable of a' limited vertical movement, and leaf springs 47 on the bot'- tom of the seat member 4.4 bear at their front ends on af cross brace 48 which extends across the frame 1'5'to give a spring cushioning action to'the seat; Such springcushioning action is further produced by leaf springs 49'secured tothe cross bar 27 and bearing` on thev bottom of the seat mem` ber, or rather against a tray 50 which is pivota'lly connected to the member 44 by bent arms 51, and which tray in this arrangement ef theA device is folded against'.- the'bottom of the seat'member 44. An arm rest formed on each sideof'the seat by a straighty rod 52`and av curved rod: 53, the two beingy pivotally coi'inect'ed together, andthe former being pivotally Connected to the member 44, while'tlie latter is pivotally connected tothe handle-bar 23, preferably at the pivotal Connection 29 for the supplemental handle bar member, as shown;

The bachy member 45 has anV extension member 54, preferably of wood, slid'ably mounted on the back thereof by means of khoolrs5'5 on the'edge of each` member engaging "the edge of the other, and a U-shaped piece't with its endspivotally connectedl to the member 45, preferably on the; hooks 55 thereof, engages a hook 57 at the outer edge of the extension 54 to hold the latter inits extended'position. A notched rib 58 on the back of extension 54 is adapted to have' its notch engaged with a central, angular odset or crank-portion `of a U-shaped bail wire 59 which is pivotally mounted at its ends in brackets GO projecting from the supplemental handle barsmembers 28, the relation of the parts being such that the bail 59 constitutes a brace for supporting the seat back in its upright position. Anarc-shaped guard 6l is secured to the back of the extension 54 and is spaced from the rib 58 to confine the sbail wire,'but by disengaging the bail wire from the notch of the rib the seat back may be swung downwardly tothe position shown in dotted lines where the bail wire again supports it to allow the child to assume a reclining position. l

il U-shaped bootv frame 62 is pivotally mounted atits 'ends tothe levers 34 a short distance alcove the pivotal connections of the latter with the frame andl extends. forwardly approximately parallel with the frame toa p'oint where it is connected by links 63 with the frame from which point itis preferably inclined upwardly as shown, and akboot'64 of oil cloth orother suitableiiexible material is attached to the front end of the boot'frame 62 and is provided with detachable fasteners G5 adapted to engage with either a set Vof complementary members at the front edge of the -seat'44' or a similar set at the rear edge thereof7 the first connection permitting the boot to hang, as shown in full lines in Fig. l, and the latter connection causing ift to be stretched straightas shown by dotted lines. Theila-tter position of the boot is more comfortablefor the child when heis ina reclining position.

The construction and operation ofthe device when forming a` folding go-cart will now be understood,alllparts being firmly heldin their respective positions while the goecart is in use to constitute a serviceable vehicle capable of necessary adjustments to adapt it to a sitting position or a reclining position of the occupant. and the seat being cushioned by the springs 47 and 49 to make it comfortable. `When -it is desired toffold the go-cart to rcollapse it in the compact condition shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and 'thus en-4 able it to be taken aboard a street car or the like, lit is only necessary to break the joint of the folding braces 41 and swing the crosspiece 30 of the handle bar toward t-he front end of the frame 15,v thus causing the seat to fold against its back and swinging the levers 34 to remove the locking member 42 from between the wheel frames and folding the wheel `frames beneath the mainframe while also folding the boot frame 62 into the main frame.

To removethe detachable portion of the device and convert it into a high chair the rods 32 are 'raised so as to permit them to pass through the openings of the handle bars 23, and the supplemental handlebar members 28 are swung away from the handle bar proper, thus liberatingfthe headed pins 36V of links 35 from their'coninementbetween the notches 37 and allowing said links 35 to be swung out of the way, as kshown iny ,Figa 4. Thehooks 26 are swung back as shown in this figure and the handlefbars with the seat and .backf mayv then be lifted from the truck, and by standing it on the end-s of the handle bar sections which are spread apart as far as will'be permitted by the tie rods 32 the device will be self supporting as shown in Fig. 5. It is now necessary to disengage the U-shaped piece 56 from the hook 57 andallow it to swing downwardly to becomea Vfootrest, and then the extension constitutes a serviceable high chair, all parts *I being irmly'held in place. In ,order to'convert the thereof, and then thehandle bar members t 23 and 2S are.swung'together and engaged by the tiek rods32 as originally. andthe de-v vice isinverted and suspt-nded by springs 68;. or otherwise,` which lmay be engaged with projectionsv 69 provided for the purpose on the'ends ofthe handle bar kmembers 23. rihis changed position is not very different from the position of the parts in the go-cart formation, as will be seen by comparing Fig. G' with Fig. l, the inainfdiiference being that the handle bars'V are swung forwardly and the tray is engaged directly withthe cross bar 27 Vto 'constitutev a brace for the seat', while the back 45 is connected to the handle bars by the bail wire 59 in the rkmanner shown' by dotted lines inrFig. 1. `Aeshoidder may be formedonlthe tray vtoprevent the tray from slipping from the cross bar 27 when,the device is in this position, such shoulder being shown as formed by a turn high chair into .the swing shown in Figs.` 6. and '7, it is only so y ybutton 7001i the bottom of the tray. In'

this position of the device it constitutes a serviceable swing or baby jumper, the seat and back being firmly held in place with relation to the suspending handle bars, and the arm rests 52 and 53 guarding the sides of the seat to prevent the child from falling therefrom. i 1 Y To now convert the swing shown in Fig. 6 into the ltwo-wheel cart shown in Fig. 8, the foot-rest 56 may be disengaged from the hook 57 and the extension 54 collapsed, and then lby swinging the seat member 44e into' the plane 'of the handle bars the arm rests 52 and 53 may have theirelbow joints bent downwardly instead of upwardly, and by rengaging the lug with they cross bar 27 the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 8, and it is only necessary to remove two of the wheels from the truck and lock them in position on the pins 24, and the two-wheell cart is completed. In this condition of the device it constitutes a serviceable two-wheel cart with parts firmly held in place and the foot-rest in position for use.

It is vobvious that the device may be changed from any operative condition to any other without the necessity `for following the course herein outlined.

The device constitutes a convertible article of furniture whether it is associated with the truck or separate therefrom and the term convertible article of furniture as herein used is therefore intended togenerically include the various forms which this device may assume as well as others of an analogous character.

W hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

v1. A folding go-cart, comprising a main frame, handle bars pivotally mounted thereon, a seat and back pivotally'connected together and mounted on the handle bars, levers fulcrumed on the main frame, links connecting` the levers with the handle bars, wheel frames pivotally mounted on thesides of the main frame, wheels thereon, arcshaped rods on the wheel frames, and Cam strips carried by the levers engaging the arcshaped rods for folding the wheel frames beneath the main frame when the levers are swung by a folding movement of the handle bars. Y

2. A folding go-cart, comprising a main frame, handle bars pivotally mountedk thereon, levers fulcrumed on the main frame, links connecting the levers with the handle bars, wheel frames pivotally mounted on the sides of the mainframe, wheels thereon, cam stripsv mounted on the levers andv spaced therefrom, and arc-shaped rods on the wheel frames confined between the cam strips and the levers. i

3. A foldingV go-cart, comprising a main frame, handle bars pivotally mounted thereon, levers fulcrumed on the main frame, links connecting the levers with the handle bars, wheel frames pivotally mounted on the sides of the main frame, wheels thereon, cam strips mounted on the levers and spaced therefrom, arc-shaped rods on the wheel frames conned between the cam strips and the levers, a blocking frame pivotally mounted on the main frame and fitting between the wheel frames, and connecting rods connecting the blocking frame with the levers.

4. A folding go-cart, comprisingv a main frame, handle bars pivotally mounted thereon, levers fulcrumed on the main frame, links connectingl the levers with the handle bars, wheel frames pivotally mounted on the main frame, wheels thereon, folding connections between the levers and the wheel-frames, a boot frame pivotally connected with the levers, links connecting the boot frame with the main frame, a folding seat and back mounted on the handlefbars, and a eXible boot connected between the boot frame and the seat.

5. A folding go-cart, comprising va main frame, handle bars pivotally mounted thereon, levers fulcrumed on the main frame, links connecting the levers with the handle bars, wheel frames pivotally mounted on the main frame, wheels thereon, folding connections between the levers and the wheel frames, a boot frame pivotally connected with the levers, links connecting the boot frame with the main frame, a folding seat and adjustable back mountedy on the handle bars, and a flexible boot connected between the boot frame and the seat and having detachable connections with the seat in different positions thereon.

6. A folding go-cart, comprising a main frame, handle bars pivotally mounted thereon, levers fulcrumed on the frame, links connecting the levers with the handle bars, wheel .frames pivotally mounted on the main frame, wheels thereon, folding connections between the wheel frame and the levers, hinged seat and back members slidably mounted on the handle bars, a cross bar connecting the lower ends of the handle bars, a cross brace on thel frame, and springs between the cross brace and the seat and between the cross bar and the seat.

7. A folding go-cart,A comprising a main frame,y handle bars pivotally mounted thereon, levers fulcrumed on the main frame, links connecting the levers with the handle bars, wheel frames pivotally mounted on the main frame with their upper ends bearing against the main frame, wheels on the wheel frames, cam strips on the lever spaced therefrom, arc-shaped strips on the wheel frames confined between the levers and the cam strips, a blocking frame pivotally mounted on the main frame and fitting between the wheel frames, links connecting the blocking frame with the levers, folding braces between the levers and the main frame, a boot frame pivotally connected with the levers, links-connecting the boot frame with the main frame, `a hinged .seat and back slidably mounted on the handle b'ars, a crosspiece 'on the main frame, a cross barconnecting the lower ends of the handle bars, springs between the cross brace and the seat and between the cross bar and the seat, an adjustable connection between the handle bars and the back, and a ieXible boot between the boot Vframeand the seat.

8. A convertible, folding go-cart, lcomprising a truck consisting of a main frame, wheel` framesl pivotally `mounted thereon,

wheels on the wheel frames, levers ful,-l

crumed on the main frame and having foldin connections with the wheel frames, and

lin sy pivotally connected with the levers; and a detachable section comprising a double set of handle bars pivotally connected together and detachably and pivotally connected with the main frame and with the links respectively, and seat and back members carried by the handle bars, said seat and back members and handle bars constituting a high chair when detached from the truck and stood upon the spread kends of the handle bars as legs.

9. A convertible, folding go-cart, comprising a truck consisting of a main frame, wheel frames pivotallymounted thereon, wheels on the wheel frames, levers fulcrumed on the main frame and having folding connections with the wheel frames, and links pivotally connected with the levers and provided with headed studs on their ends; and a detachable section comprising a double set of handle bars pivotally connected together and detachably and pivot-V ally connected with the main frame and detachably engaging kthe headed studs of the links between them, and seat and back memf bers carried by the handle bars, said seat and back members and handle bars constituting a high chair when detached from the truck and stood upon the spread ends of the handle bars as legs.

10. A convertible article of furniture,

comprising a pair of seat members hingedtogether to alternatively constitute a seat and its back, a pair of elongated members pivotally connectedlto the seat members, a; supplemental elongatedl member pivotally connected with each of said elongated members,'a bail having pivotal connection `with the elongated membersand engaging one of the seat members, and pairs of hinged rods connected to the sides of the other seat supplemental elongated member pivotally connected with each of said elongated members, a hinged link Vconnection between each relongated member andpits `supplemental elongated member mounted on one ofsaid membersand p assing'through an opening in the other to hold them together andto klimit their swinging movement with relation toV each other, a bail having pivotalconnection with the elongatedv-members` andengagingV oneY ofk the seat membersppairs: of hinged rods connected to the sides of the other -seat member and to the elongated membersto form arm rests, and a stop on the elongated members for determining the position of the last mentioned seat member.

12. A convertible article of furniture, comprising a pair of seat members hingedy together to alternatively constitute a seat and its back, a pair of elongated members pivotally connected to the seat members, a supplemental elongated member pivotally connected with each of said elongated members, an extension slidably mounted on one of the seat members, a U-shaped piece pivotally mounted on said seat member and adapted to engage the extension for holding it in its extended position, hooks on the back of said seat member and the extension respectively, a bail having pivotal connection with the elongated members and adapted Vto engage one or both of the hooks, pairs of hinged rods connected to the sides of the other seaty member and to the elongated members to form arm rests, and a stop on the elongated members for determining the positionk of the last mentioned member.

13. Al convertible article of furniture,

comprising a pair of seat members hinged together to alternatively constitute a seat land its back, a pair of elongated Vmembers pivotally connected to the seat members, a supplemental elongated member pivotally connected with each of said elongated members, an extension slidably mounted on one of the seatmembers, a U-shaped piece pivotally mounted 'on sajid seat member and adapted to engage the extension for holdingY it in its extendedV position, hooks on the back of said seat member andthe extension respectively, a bail having pivotal connection with the elongated members and ada t- -ed to engage one or both of the hooks, pairsV of hingedv rods connected to the sides of the other seat member and to the elongated members to form arm rests, a stop on the elongated members for determining Vthe pofilo sition ofthe last mentioned seat member, and a tray pivotally connected to the last mentioned seat member and adapted to engage the stop.

14. A convertible article of furniture, comprising a pair of seat members hinged together to alternatively oonstitutea seat and its back, a pair of elongated members pivotally connected to the seat members, a supplemental elongated member pivotally connected with each of said yelongated members, an extension slidably mounted on one of the seat members, a U-shaped piece pivotally mounted on said seat member and adapted to engage the extensioirfor holding it in its'extended position', hooks on the back of saidseat member and the extension respectively, a bail having pivotal connec- Oopies yof this'patent may be obtained yfor tion with the elongated members and adapted to engage lone `or both of the hooks, pairs of hinged rods connected to the sides of the other seat member and to the elongated members to orm'arm rests, la stop on the elongated'members for determining the position ofthe last'mentioned seat member, a tray pivotal-ly connected to the last mentioned seatmember and adapted'to engage the stop, pins projecting from the sides of the -elongated members, and Wheels removably mounted on the pins.

Intestimony whereof, I laiix mysignature, inpresence of two Witnesses.

JOHN F. BRIGGS'. Witnesses:

J. W. MOORE, ELLA PAETZER.

ve cents each, b'y-iaddressing-the Commissioner ofl Patents,

WashingtonjD. GL Y 

